After a week of pretty chill weather, it looks like thunderstorms and cold temperatures might be making their way to Southern California this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. A low-pressure system rolled in on Thursday and seems to be heading eastward into Arizona, causing some instability in the region. This could mean showers and thunderstorms in the mountains, so better pack an umbrella just in case. The weather service is even warning about possible flash flooding and debris flows, especially in areas that have been hit by fires before. So, yeah, be careful out there, folks.
Another low-pressure system is on its way for Saturday, and it’s expected to thicken up the marine layer real quick. Coastal areas might get hit with some light rain or drizzle, especially on Saturday morning and Sunday. The chances of precipitation are highest for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, but don’t expect too much – we’re talking less than an inch here. Up in the mountains, showers could start popping up around 5,500 feet by Sunday, but nothing too crazy in terms of rain and snowfall. Although, some mountain spots could get up to half an inch of rain and a few inches of snow. And let’s not forget about those pesky wind gusts, reaching up to 45 mph in coastal areas. The Central Coast and southwest Santa Barbara are in for the strongest blows, but valleys, mountains, and deserts could see gusts of up to 35 mph.
By Sunday, temperatures are expected to drop to the 60s and 70s, which is a good 10 degrees below normal. Scott Handel, a forecaster at the federal Climate Prediction Center, says that California will be stuck with cooler temperatures until at least the middle of May. Apparently, there’s some upper-level trough thing happening that’s keeping things chillier than usual. Handel mentioned to the San Francisco Chronicle that a ridge will be building up in the eastern and central U.S., so I guess that’s something to keep an eye on.
Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like the weather is going to be a bit all over the place this weekend. Thunderstorms, cold temps, possible flooding – it’s like Mother Nature just can’t make up her mind. Make sure to stay updated on the latest forecasts and maybe keep that raincoat handy. Who knows, you might just need it sooner than you think. Stay safe out there, Southern California!
And that’s the scoop on the upcoming weather madness. Grab your umbrellas and hold onto your hats, folks. It’s going to be a wild ride!
